Jamie Mulgrew on his European wish as he embarks on another continental campaign
For the Blues captain reaching the group stages of a European competition would be "the pinnacle" of a storied career.
Mulgrew knows it is not an easy thing to achieve having gone agonisingly close with Linfield in the past but it's a dream he holds dear.
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"People can go on about finances, but for me personally as a player, to be able to play in the group stages of a European competition would be the pinnacle really," Mulgrew said ahead of tonight's Champions League qualifier against Shelbourne.
"So again, you reach this stage every year of playing in Europe and that's what the excitement would be to be able to achieve that. And again, what Larne did obviously was fantastic. Would we all love to do that? Yes.
"Is it going to be easy? Definitely not. But that doesn't mean you can't have those dreams and those aspirations to one day achieve that."
Mulgrew begins another European campaign tonight at Tolka Park and he says it still excites him as much as ever.
"I'm 39 now, so I get excited about every game because you don't know when it's going to finish," he said.
"I think it's vitally important that when you come into your work every day you enjoy and you embrace everything that comes with it.
"Certainly tonight will be the same. No matter what team you're playing, it's the early rounds of the Champions League and the opportunity to possibly progress.
"And yes, you can go on about finances and all that there, but us as players, it's the prestige of getting through a round.
"The finances available for the club, obviously it's fantastic, but first and foremost, for us to get through a round and to give ourselves an opportunity then to push on and hopefully reach a group stage eventually, that's got to be the main goal for us as a team and individuals."
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